What is iNaturalist?

iNaturalist is an easy-to-use database that records worldwide biodiversity. iNaturalist users worldwide upload photos of wild living things to the site that can be used as scientific data. NHMU uses the site to study the spread of introduced species, learn more about biodiversity in Utah, and to have fun taking pictures outside!

Getting Started

iNaturalist helps you learn about the living things in your part of the world, while also contributing to science observations made to the site. Use these links to download the app to your

 mobile device, and then create your account. 

• Download for Andoid here
• Download for iOS here

Make an Observation!

NHMU iNaturalist Tips:

NHMU is creating user guides for making the best iNaturalist observations you can, stay tuned for more!

• Spider Observations
• Ladybugs

Revisit NHMU's iNaturalist MasterClass to learn more about enhancing your contributions to global biodiversity.

Make Identifications 

Want to dive a little deeper? Help ID observations made by fellow iNaturalist Users.

Identifications help verify the scientific accuracy of an iNaturalist observation, a core purpose of the platform, and help tell the story of nature being photographed around the globe. Identifiers on iNaturalist are a small, but mighty (and important!) group (more on that here). Identifying observations on iNaturalist takes some expertise. iNaturalist notes that identifying organisms is a lifelong journey - like becoming acquainted with your own neighbors and neighborhood- and you can get started anytime! Benefits of making IDs include: 

• Learn about nature - Making IDs helps you get better acquainted with your local nature, or explore nature around the globe.
• Make better observations - As you ID, you will notice images that are both useful, or not useful - which in turn will help you make better observations.
• Find Community - Connect with other iNaturalist users: amateur naturalists, experts, science professionals, land managers, etc.
• Contribute to Science - your IDs will help confirm or contribute to the iNaturalist community's opinion of an organism

Best practices & tools:

• Only ID to the best of your ability
• How to become a better Identifier
• Identification tool tutorial on iNaturalist 

Back to How To Be a Naturalist